Armazindy;—fambily name _Ballenger_,—you’ll find the same, As her Daddy answered it, In the old War-rickords yit,— And, like him, she’s airnt the good Will o’ all the neighborhood.— Name ain’t down in _History_,— But, i jucks! it _ort_ to be! Folks is got respec’ fer _her_— Armazindy Ballenger!— ’Specially the ones ’at knows Fac’s o’ how her story goes From the start:—Her father blowed Up—eternally furloughed— When the old “Sultana” bu’st, And sich men wuz needed wusst.— Armazindy, ’bout fourteen- Year-old then—and thin and lean As a killdee,—but—_my la!_— Blamedest nerve you ever saw! The girl’s mother’d _allus_ be’n Sickly—wuz consumpted when Word came ’bout her husband.—So Folks perdicted _she’d_ soon go— (Kind o’ grief _I_ understand, Losin’ _my_ companion,—and Still a widower—and still Hinted at, like neighbers will!) So, app’inted, as folks said, Ballenger a-bein’ dead, Widder, ’peared-like, gradjully, Jes grieved after him tel _she_ Died, nex’ Aprile wuz a year,— And in Armazindy’s keer Leavin’ the two twins, as well As her pore old miz’able Old-maid aunty ’at had be’n Struck with palsy, and wuz then Jes a he’pless charge on _her_— _Armazindy Ballenger_. Jevver watch a primrose ’bout Minute ’fore it blossoms out— Kindo’ loosen-like, and blow Up its muscles, don’t you know, And, all suddent, bu’st and bloom Out life-size?—Well, I persume ’At’s the only measure I _Kin_ size Armazindy by!— Jes a _child_, _one_ minute,—nex’, _Woman-grown_, in all respec’s And intents and purposuz— ’At’s what Armazindy wuz! Jes a _child_, I tell ye! Yit She made things git up and git Round that little farm o’ hern!— Shouldered all the whole concern;— Feed the stock, and milk the cows— Run the _farm_ and run the _house_!— _Only_ thing she didn’t do Wuz to plough and harvest too— But the house and childern took Lots o’ keer—and had to look After her old fittified Grandaunt.—Lord! ye could’a’ cried, Seein’ Armazindy smile, ’Peared-like, sweeter all the while! And I’ve heerd her laugh and say:— “Jes afore Pap marched away, He says, ‘I depend on _you_, Armazindy, come what may— You must be a Soldier, too!’”